FCMHW PROGRAM: Improving uptake of prostate cancer screening in men from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

Contact: Dr Norma Bulamu

Overview:

Unlike bowel and cervical cancers, population-based screening is not recommended for prostate cancer. Therefore, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has developed a tool to assist men in decision making around undergoing a PSA screening test. Men are expected to initiate these conversations with their general practitioners (GPs).

Most immigrants are less likely to initiate conversations about cancer screening because culturally, they expect them to be initiated by their health care provider. In addition, men have a self-perceived low risk of cancer because of low cancer risk observed in their native countries, high levels of stigma around cancer and poor health literacy on the benefits of screening.

We will partner with researchers and community outreach officers at Cancer Council SA (lead by Dr Jess Loyer), the Multicultural Communities of South Australia Men’s Group who are investigating barriers to engagement with cancer control programs among CALD communities.

Through existing partnerships, we will work with men from Nepalese, Chinese, African, African-Muslim, Vietnamese, and Filipino communities. Approximately 150 men from these communities will be invited to take part in this project

This program aims to adapt the current RACGP prostate cancer screening decision-making tool to be culturally sensitive and meet the needs of men from CALD backgrounds and improve the uptake of PSA screening which will facilitate early detection and treatment/monitoring of prostate cancer.